Saturday 4 January 1890

MARRIED on December 28 at St.Bartholomew’s Church, Grahamstown, by the father of the bride, assisted by the Rev. Canon Espin, the Rev. Basil HAMPDEN-JONES, Principal of St.Mary’s School, Johannesburg, to Jane Marion, daughter of the Rev. Canon MULLINS.

Tuesday 7 January 1890

BIRTH at Villers Street, Kimberley on Dec. 30th 1889, the wife of F. PAXTON of a son.

REV. J.D. DON MARRIED
The Kingwilliamstown papers record the marriage of the Rev. J.D.DON of that town to a daughter of the Hon. Charles BROWNLEE C.M.G. Mr. DON is chiefly known in Grahamstown for his triumph in the PELSER and DON case, and is regarded with much affection by his flock.
[Transcriber’s Note: The legal case referred to is described here]

DEATH
Michael LINSKI, for years caretaker of the Town Hall, is dead. As he was nearly always at his post in front of the Hall door, and as the entrance to the Library is close at hand, his visage and form were very familiar to the many frequenters of the Institution. He had many friends in town, who will sincerely mourn his death, and cordially condole with the bereaved family. The deceased, who was in his 55th year, had been ailing with some affection of the heart for some time, and was unable to be at his duty. He was formerly a bandsman in the Imperial C.M.R. and was very popular with his comrades.

A NARROW ESCAPE
In a recent issue we commented on the sad death of Mr. Walter DRENNAN, of East London, by lightning, just after his congratulatory telegram had been received here by his brother, who had been married that morning to Miss Amy BERTRAM. We gave full details of the disaster at the time, but a private informant adds a hitherto unpublished fact, well worthy a paragraph. It will be remembered that the deceased was riding by the wagon side when he was struck, and a minute previously he had by his side Mr. KNOWLES. The latter’s horse reared and its head struck Mr. KNOWLES’s nose, making it bleed. He had just turned away so that the ladies should not see the blood, when the ball of fire struck DRENNAN. Mr. KNOWLES had a narrow escape, as the lightning marked his coat sleeve, and but for the accident to his nose it is difficult to see how he could have escaped, as he had been riding close beside the deceased.

HOW SIX MEN WATCHED A WHITE LADY DROWNING
The deplorable accident by which the late Mrs. ZINN lost her life near Bedford during the recent floods has been paragraphed and copied by nearly all the colonial newspapers, but we have been furnished with a fact which has not yet been made public. It is that six white men, all of them expert swimmers, stood on the bank of the river and watched the lady’s danger, without one of them plunging in to the rescue. They contented themselves with imploring her to keep her courage up, and informing her that oxen had been sent for to draw the overturned cart away from her and so extricate her. Two natives made a vain attempt to rescue her but could not succeed, but there is little doubt that the united exertions of the band could have extricated the unfortunate lady, and perhaps have saved her to her family. If we knew their names we should certainly publish them. We shall be glad to hear further on the matter from anyone who can furnish information on the accident. If the story be really true, which we can’t help wishing may not be the case, the white men have covered themselves with unspeakable infamy, and deserve to be held in general execration.

Thursday 9 January 1890

BIRTH at West Hill, Grahamstown, on January 6th 1890, the wife of A.F.S.MAASDORP Esq, Solicitor-General, of a daughter.

VROOM – LEWIS
Married at the Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, on January 8th 1890, by the Rev. J. Pendlebury, John James VROOM, eldest son of the late J.J. VROOM, to Rose Ellen, eldest daughter of J.S. LEWIS of Fort England.

HYMENEAL
At Commemoration Church yesterday the Rev. J. PENDLEBURY performed the ceremony which made man and wife of Mr. J.J. VROOM, eldest son of the late Mr. J.J. VROOM, and Miss Rose Ellen LEWIS’ eldest daughter of Mr. J.S. LEWIS of Fort England. We wish the young people every happiness.

DIED on Wednesday morning, 8th January, Mr. James KEMP of this City. Aged 76 years. Most deeply regretted.
The Funeral of the late Mr. Jas. KEMP will move from his residence, Prince Alfred Street, at 4 o’clock tomorrow afternoon (Friday). All friends are respectfully invited to attend.

BIRTH on the 8th inst at Prince Alfred Street, the wife of H.F.BLAINE of a daughter.

Saturday 11 January 1890

THE DROWNING OF MRS. ZINN
We gave a report in our last issue to the effect that about half a dozen expert swimmers stood on the bank and watched while the late Mrs. ZINN was in danger in the Kaqa River, near Bedford; and at the same time we stated that we hoped the report was untrue. A correspondent, whose word is as good as his bond, writes thus from Bedford: “No man living could have rescued her until the spider, cart and horses were removed, between which she was helplessly fixed; and not until a span of 8 oxen had been attached to the wreckage could the body be rescued.” We gave the rumour for what it was worth, judging that, as the rumour was in a good many mouths, it was necessary to have it refuted publicly, and if not refuted to expose the cowardice of the spectators to the tragedy. Of course we are glad to have the charge disproved in this way, but still we can hardly help thinking that the impulse would have been to plunge to the rescue, no matter how things looked. Still, we were not there, and must leave that to those who were. Our correspondent, however, need not have styled our informant “a wilful and contemptible liar” as he cannot possibly be biased one way or the other, and merely repeated a prevailing rumour. Our correspondent has taken the right course in promptly explaining the matter, which may now be allowed to drop, though we can understand the warmth of his letter when he explains that he himself witnessed the sad event.

Tuesday 14 January 1890

AN OLD SETTLER
It is with extreme regret that we (Farmers’ Chronicle) publish the news of the death of another of the old 1820 settlers, Mr. KEMP Sen. Mr. KEMP came out in 1820, and for the last 70 years has been a farmer in the Grahamstown district. He recently came to Cathcart for the purpose of visiting his son, Mr. John KEMP of Spanover. Only last week we saw the deceased gentleman on the racecourse, and were remarking how well he looked despite his 77 years. It seems that he caught a severe cold and died rather suddenly on Tuesday night. His mortal remains were conveyed by train to Kingwilliamstown, and will be taken thence to Grahamstown, there to be interred in the same grave as those of his wife.

Thursday 16 January 1890

SAD FATALITY
The Transvaal Observer hears as follows: On New Year’s Day the Rev. J. ALLSOP went to the opening of the Wesleyan Native Chapel in the neighbourhood of Cato Ridge, Natal. On returning he was overtaken by a terrific storm when about two hours from home. He and the native driver felt the effects of a terrible flash of lightning followed by thunder and clouds of smoke. The horses were terrorised. The driver felt the shock in his legs, while Mr. ALLSOP’s left arm was rendered powerless. Two more explosions followed, setting fire to a garden. On turning round they saw a native house all ablaze. When the storm abated they found two men, one woman and two children lying dead in the ashes; three little children escaped. Mr. ALLSOP is still suffering.

DEATH BY BEES
In the Potchefstroom district three men – two SMITS and VILJOEN – went to take out a bees’ nest. To open the crevice they needed dynamite. Then the bees rushed out. The SMITS fell on their faces and covered their heads with their jackets. VILJOEN endeavoured to drive off the bees but in ten minutes he was dead.

SUICIDE AT BARKLY WEST
A young German woman, employed as housemaid at the Queens Hotel, Barkly West, committed suicide there on Tuesday week by swallowing a considerable quantity of carbolic acid. The deceased, whose name was KALWHIT, has relations living in the Kingwilliamstown district. Some love affair is supposed to have been the cause.

SUDDEN DEATH AT THE RAND
Shortly after 11pm on Tuesday week Dr. STEEDMAN, who occupied a room at the Criterion Hotel, fell down dead on the verandah without speaking a word. The deceased (says a local paper) had complained during the day of a pain in his chest, but nothing serious was apprehended. It was a great surprise to those at the hotel, when his sad death was known. He was seen to fall by a gentleman, who immediately obtained assistance and a Doctor, but life was extinct.

Saturday 18 January 1890

DEATH OF THE BISHOP OF ZULULAND
By order of Bishop WEBB, the Cathedral bell was tolled this morning for the death of Bishop MACKENZIE of Zululand, whose decease has been briefly notified by wire.

SHOCKING
The Barberton G.F. News says: On 31st Dec on information sent to the authorities, a house on Lomas’s Ridge was forced open, and the dead body of a woman, Mrs. SEYMOUR, in an advanced stage of decomposition, removed therefrom, and buried by convicts in the local cemetery. Death was the result of alcoholic poisoning. Deceased had been last seen alive on the 28th ult.

Tuesday 21 January 1890

BIRTH at Beaufort House on 14th January 1890, the wife of E.B.C.HOOLE of a son.

BIRTH at Beaufort-street, Grahamstown, on the 18th January, the wife of John Mitchell HILL of a daughter.

DEATH IN SWAZILAND
A week ago (says a Barberton telegram) the corpse of a young Englishman, named DISMORE, was found near Forbes Reef. It is generally supposed that his death was the result of an accident, as no traces of violence are visible on the body.

DEATH OF MR. G.A. GREEN
The Somerset paper reports the sudden death of Mr. G.A. GREEN, Pearston. The deceased gentleman had been complaining of indisposition, but even up to the last day no actual danger was anticipated, though it was known he suffered from weakness about the heart.

Saturday 25 January 1890

DIED at Hope Fountain, near Salem, on Tuesday January 14th 1890, Elizabeth Kenward LONG (born EMSLIE), widow of the late James D. LONG, aged 77 years and 11 months. (One of Cox’s Party of the Settlers of 1820).
Her end was peace.

POISONED BY WILD FRUIT
A telegram from Mafeking, Bechuanaland, says: Two deaths occurred here on Friday, the deceased being the much respected Father BOOM and Trooper McCARTER, of the Company’s Police. The latter died from eating poisonous wild fruit, and gradually succumbed after five days’ suffering. His life could have been saved if there had been a medical man in attendance. Great indignation is felt owing to there being no medical officer here. Over 200 of the B.S.A. Police are stationed here, and there are several other serious cases of illness.

Tuesday 28 January 1890

DIED at Barkly East on Sunday 26th January 1890, Henry NESBITT JP, late Captain 12th Regiment. Aged 54 years.

A SAD CALAMITY
Some time ago we (T. Advertiser) recorded that Mr. Eddie MEARS had both his hands shattered by the untimely explosion of a dynamite cartridge; we have since ascertained that both the arms of the unfortunate young gentleman have been amputated above the wrists.

Thursday 30 January 1890

A VICIOUS COW
A few days ago New St. witnessed a number of narrow escapes. A cow was being driven through the street and became rather wild. Seeing Mr. R. WEBB’s children, it made a bee line for them, but the father frightened it off, and it left them and went for Mr. LEVING’s son, whom it knocked down senseless. The lad was picked up and for several minutes did not know where he was, but on recovering himself the blood gushed from his mouth and nostrils. He, however, appeared not much the worse for the knockdown. In the meantime the cow continued its career up the street, going for every person it saw.